G-P to Invest $100 Million in Expansion of Bowling Green Facility
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Georgia-Pacific (Atlanta, Ga., USA) Consumer Products Group on May 23 announced that the company is investing nearly $100 million in its Bowling Green, Kentucky, manufacturing facility. The investment will increase the plant's production capacity of paper plates and bowls.
"This is great news for our Dixie business and the Bowling Green plant. This expansion will help us continue meeting the needs of our customers as demand continues to grow for high-quality, durable paper plates and bowls," said Erik Sjogren, VP and GM of livingware at Georgia-Pacific. "We believe this expansion will also position our Bowling Green Dixie facility to remain competitive in the market and in the local community for the long-term."
The Bowling Green plant produces Dixie paper plates and bowls in varying sizes. This latest expansion will include a new building and the addition of a new printer and several new plate forming presses. The project will create more than 50 full-time jobs increasing total employment at the plant to about 200 people.
"We are excited to expand production at Bowling Green. This is a great plant with an excellent safety record, modern facilities and a highly-skilled and qualified workforce," said Jimmy Lindsay, plant director at the Bowling Green Dixie facility. "This investment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our workforce to continuously create value for our customers and the community."
Originally built in 1991, the plant has seen several expansions in its more than 25 years in operation. Production at the facility represents about one quarter of all paper plates and bowls produced by Georgia-Pacific.
Construction has already begun, and the project is expected to be finished in the first half of 2020.
Bowling Green is one of two facilities Georgia-Pacific operates in Kentucky — the second is a Dixie facility in Lexington. Statewide, the company currently employs nearly 500 people directly, pays $28 million in direct wages and benefits and creates approximately 1,000 indirect jobs. Since 2013, the company has invested $66 million in state operations.
